Moose live on the margins of lakes, muskegs and streams of the boreal forest, on the rocky, wooded hillsides of the western mountain ranges and now even northward through the transition forest that extends to the open tundra

As well as letting out bellows, the female moose emits a strong odor in order to attract a male to mate. She also secretes a special chemical in her urine which lets the male know that she is ready to mate.

An Alaskan moose discovered in 1897 holds the record for being the largest known modern deer; it was a male standing 2.34 m (7 ft 8 in) at the shoulders and weighing 816 kg (1799 lb). Its antler spread was 199 cm (78.3 inches).

Although generally timid, the males become very bold during the breeding season, when the females utter a loud call, which can be heard from up to 3.2 kilometers away, and are often mistaken for lowing cattle; and at such times they fight both with their antlers and their hoofs.